India Finalises Letter of Request for 114 Rafale Jets Worth $39bn, 90 Units Locally Produced

India has finalised the Letter of Request (LoR) for the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The LoR is expected to be sent to France ‘within the coming weeks’, according to The Indian Express.

Approximately 90 of the 114 jets will be manufactured in India through a collaboration between French manufacturer Dassault Aviation and an Indian company, with the remainder delivered in ready-to-fly condition. The contract is valued at $39 billion, or approximately Rp 696 trillion.

Senior officials stated that once France responds to the LoR, India will formalise a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the acquisition. The LoR is a formal intergovernmental document used to initiate procurement under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) framework, detailing required capabilities, quantities, and technical specifications.

In such procurements, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) first grants approval, followed by the issuance of the LoR. After the French government responds with pricing, availability, and logistical support details, negotiations between the two parties commence.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) must approve the final contract before signing. In this case, the LoR was issued three months after the DAC approved the long-awaited proposal to procure Rafales under an intergovernmental agreement.

Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, head of the Indian Air Force, is scheduled to visit France next month, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned trip in late June 2026. Currently, the IAF operates 36 Rafale jets, while the Indian Navy will integrate 26 Rafale M carrier-based aircraft in the coming years.